Where were Sir Cliff, Mick and Clapton?

LONDON – The closing act wasn’t as historically significant as the opener but for 80,000 spectators, it was just as grand a treat in ending the Olympics here with a resounding bang.

Last Sunday, artistic director Kim Gavin put an exclamation point to the final chapter of the 30th Summer Games in a three-hour evening program and Lord Sebastian Coe, head of the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, saluted the 10,490 athletes and 70,000 volunteers who made the 16-day event a cause for celebration.   

Coe said, “Britain, we did it right, thank you” in marking the successful staging of the extravaganza that brought in 204 countries. He cited the workers who “transformed buildings into theaters of drama” and the security force that assured everyone’s safety. Coe called it “the wonderful Games” in a “wonderful city” as he declared that the Olympic flame “lit up the world.” 

The equivalent of P900 million was spent to produce the closer which according to Gavin was rehearsed only in 17 hours. The atmosphere was party-like. It didn’t really make sense to deliver another message like Danny Boyle’s inspiring rendition of British life in the lavish P15.4 billion opening program at the same Olympic Stadium. From Boyle’s expansive portrait, Gavin zeroed in on London’s legacy in the arts and provided a platform for some of the UK’s legendary musicians to display their wares under elaborate settings.

Gavin said the idea was to capture British music and culture in a spirit that has inspired so much global creativity over the past 50 years. More than 3,500 volunteer performers were mobilized to support the artists featured in “A Symphony of British Music.” 

The first segment is a journey through a day in the life of the city from early morning rush hour to glittering sunset, noted Gavin. Then there is the performance of 30 British hit songs which Gavin described as “the pop music you know and love, accompanied by eye-popping visuals.” He said “extinguishing the Olympic flame is a poignant moment at any Games, the climax of two weeks in which the athletes’ endeavors and triumphs have caught the imagination of people across the globe.” 

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Video highlights of Olympic moments were shown on six large monitors situated over the oval structure. It wasn’t just the music that made the show a smash. It was also the light and sound effects that put the musical story into perspective. Each seat in the stadium had a square box behind it hooked to a main switcher that lit up the stands in a dazzling assortment of colors. The colors even kept rhythm with the music in synch. 

The track oval was turned into a highway where open-roof cars, taxis, container trucks and trailers with flat-beds that converted into a stage made rounds to depict activity in the city. The musicians comprised an all-star cast. Madness did “Our House” which was featured twice in the show as if the UK didn’t produce enough hits. The Kinks’ frontman Ray Davies, scheduled for a solo concert at the Royal Albert Hall late this year, sang his anthem-like composition “Waterloo Sunset.” One Direction belted out “What Makes You Beautiful.” Videos of the late John Lennon singing “Imagine” and the late Freddie Mercury stirring up the crowd before a song were shown. George Michael sang twice, Annie Lennox showed up with lungs bursting in a stylized galleon and Jessie J, Taio Cruz and Tinie Tempah did a rousing version of The Bee Gees’ “You Should Be Dancing.” Two of three Bee Gees are now deceased, Maurice and Robin. The only survivor Barry is reportedly reluctant to take to the stage again. David Bowie’s songs were featured but he wasn’t there. “Mr. Blue Sky” was perfect in a sequence about Britain’s weather but composer Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra were absent.

Queen’s original members Brian May (lead guitar) and Roger Taylor (drums) did an extreme instrumental of “We Will Rock You” with Jessie J gyrating in a skin-tight, flesh-colored outfit described as the nude look. Eric Idle performed “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life” which wasn’t a familiar tune among music fans uninitiated to local British color. Take That sang “Rule The World” appropriately for the Olympics’ gold medalists. The Who’s lead vocalist Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend combined for the finale, a medley of songs including the CSI New York theme “Baba O’Riley” “See Me, Feel Me” and “Listening To You,” the last two from the rock opera “Tommy.” Fireworks set the sky ablaze as Gavin pulled no stops in painting a festive atmosphere to the party. Other surprise sequences were prima ballerina Darcey Bussell’s flying in from the roof of the stadium with orange wings, a giant cannon blasting out a man who was catapulted onto a waiting trampoline and the world’s greatest athletes marching as one united family corralled in seven formations that reflect the British Union Jack flag by a blue-uniformed brigade where every member wore a light bulb on top of a derby hat.

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There were rumors that Elton John and the Rolling Stones would perform in the bill. But they never came. If Gavin wanted to pay tribute to the greatest British musicians, then he missed out on Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and the irrepressible Sir Cliff Richard. Someone should explain to the public why those British music legends weren’t in the show, why Michael sang twice (once should’ve been enough), why “Wonderwall” wasn’t performed by Oasis (Liam Gallagher’s new band Beady Eye took care of it) and why Bowie and ELO were missing in action.   

International Olympic Committee president Dr. Jacques Rogge declared the Games closed and the Olympic flame was extinguished by bringing down the burning petals from a flower portrayal. The Olympic flag was turned over by London Mayor Boris Johnson to Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes. That signalled the cue for the Brazilians to perform three numbers and spotted during the act was football legend Pele dancing up front with the troupe. 

As expected, the closer was as unforgettable as the opener even if its theme was restricted to create a London atmosphere with the Big Ben, black taxis and the London Eye. The theme was relevant as Lord Coe had challenged London volunteers to put their best foot forward in welcoming the guests from all over the world. As Coe pronounced, it was a job well done right. Rio de Janeiro has a tough act to follow in 2016.